Apparatus for sizing textile fibers or threads



Feb. 12, 1929. 1,702,140

' C. F. 'TOPHAM APPARATUS FOR SIZING TEXTILE FIBERS QBIHREADS FiledApril1926 mien/TOR (hm/n55 F. To /1am JKMM Patented Feb. 12, 1929.

UNITED STATF S PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES IBED TOPHAK, OI COVENTRY, ENGLAND, ASBIGNOB TO OOUBTAULDSLIMITED, 01 LONDON, ENGLAND.

APPARATUS FOR SIZING TEXTILE FIBERS 0B THREADS.

Application am April 8, 1926, Serial No. 89,481, and in Great BritainJune 28, 1925.

This invention relates to the sizing of textile material such as threadsor fibers, and in particular to'machines for the said purpose, and isespecially adapted for use in the sizing of artificial silk warps. Insizing such warps the artificial silk threads are generally drawn offone horizontal roller and pass over a second horizontal roller, thelower part of which dips into a bath of the sizing solution. The threadshaving thus taken up a certain quantity of the sizing solution, passover a heated plate in order to dry them, and are then wound onto athird horizontal roller, generally termed a warp beam. Such warp rollersor warp beams often contain a very large number of threads, usually manyhundreds and often thousands of such threads being wound parallel on onesuch roller or beam.

When passing a large number of threads over the second roller, which isdipping into the sizing solution, hereinafter referred to as the sizingroller, it sometimes happens that, some of the threads are either not atall or onl insuflicientl covered or im regnated with the sizing solution. Attempts ave been made to avoid this by using another roller atthe top of the sizing roller, for the purpose of pressing the threadsinto the sizing solu tion with which the sizing roller is coated andalso, to a certain extent, spreading out the filaments of which eachthread is comosed, thus allowing the sizin solution to impregnate thethreads. Suc top roller,

' however, has not enerally proved successful when artificial sil isbeing sized, since even if the top roller be coated with a layer ofrubber it is found that the pressure is too great or the delicateartificial silk threads, and the threads are broken or otherwisedamaged.

I have now discovered that the sizing of artificial silk threads orfibers (hereinafter referred to as threads) can be carried out verysuccessfully if atop roller of special construction be employed to pressthe threads onto the sizing roller. cording to my invention consists ofa central rod of 'hard material, such for example as iron, surrounded bya cylinder of a resilient material, such for exam le as rubber, a spacebeing left between the ard central rod and the outer resilient cylinder.Into this space I insert a larger or smaller quantity of liquid, suchfor example as water. This compound roller, when used as the top rolleron the The top roller, are-- top of the sizing roller, is sufficient topress the threads down into the sizing solution, particularly as theressure between the two rollers causes a sma 1 pool of sizin solution tocollect at their point of contact, tlius assist- 1n in the impregnationof the threads. The roIler itself, however, owin to its specialconstruction is so resilient that any knots on the threads pass easilybetween the rollers, without being dragged or broken.

It is generally preferred to give both the sizing roller and the toproller a positive drive, so that the surfaces of the two rollers travelat the same peripheral s eed, although if desired the top roller nee notbe positively rotated.

I will describe the invention with reference to the accompanyingdrawings which illustrate by way of example'how the invention may becarried out in 'ractice, but the invention is not limited to t eapparatus described and shewn.

Figure 1 represents diagrammatically apparatus in section according tothis invention shewing the course of travel of the thread, while Figure2 is a longitudinal section of a compound top roller according to thisinvention, and ig. 3 'is a longitudinal section of another rolleraccordin to this invention.

Referring to Figure 1, is the first roller or warp beam from which thethreads X are being unwound, passing over the sizing roller B w ich dipsinto the trough of sizing solution C. D is the top roller according tothis invention, and is shewn as being filled about one-third with water.

After passin between the sizing roller and the top roller t e threadstravel over a heated box E where they are dried and then througha reedF, being finally wound on a third roller or warp beam G.

In Figure 2, which illustrates a compound top roller according to thisinvention, H is the central rod, on each end of which is a circularflange J. K is a cylinder of resilient material such as a rubber tubefastened to one of the flanges J at each end and leavin a space Lbetween the peripheral tubing an the central rod H. M is a screw stopperon the removal of which a larger or smaller amount of water or othersuitable li uid can be poured into the space L. The en of the centralrod H is rovided with a gear wheel N by means of w ich it is driven.

In Figure 2 the central rod is shewn as being continuous from end to endof the roller, but if'desired the middle portion of this rod may beomitted rovided means are employed for positively riving each end of theroller at the same speed.

As a general rule the top roller is preferably longer than the totalwidth occupied by the threads on the sizing roller, so that the rubberwhich is immediately under its end supports or flanges does not comeinto contact with the threads which are bein sized. The remainingportions of the rollerJby reason of the resiliency of the material andthe lack of support from the interior, are subject to slight deformationby the liquid within the roller. This deformatlon, comin alwa s at thebottom, causes the contact with the swing roller to extend over anappreciable area.

What I claim is 1. In apparatus for sizing textile threads, a sizingroller, associated means for supplying sizing thereto, means for passingover t e sizing roller a group of threads of delicate structure such asartificial silk, in combination with a roller for pressing the threadsupon the sizing roller, said press roller comprising a hollow cylinderof resilient material and a weighting liquid contained within theroller.

2 In apparatus for sizing textile threads, a siz ng roller, associatedmeans for suppl lng sizing thereto, means for passing over t e sizingroller 21 group of threads of delicate structure such as artificialsilk, in combination with a roller for pressing the threads upon thesizing roller, said press roller comprising a hollow cylinder ofresilient material and a Weighting liquid of less volume than theinterior of the hollow cylinder contained within the roller.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

CHARLES FRED TOPHAM.

